Commission wants European RFID policy
A debate on Europe’s approach to Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) was launched by the EU Commission on 9 March. RFID tags are “the precursors of a world in which billions of networked objects and sensors will report their location, identity, and history,” said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding.
The EU’s “public debate” on RFID will rely on:
- a series of high-level workshops (Brussels, March – June 2006), aiming to build a consensus on key issues associated with the implementation of RFID
- a wide-public on-line consultation: this will be based on the draft communication derived from the above workshops. It is expected to start in June or July 2006, and will be held on Your Voice in Europe
- a final communication on RFID in Europe.
Outsiders will then be able to comment – provided they know how and where. The feedback “could lead to amendments of the e-privacy-Directive which is up for review this year”.
A Commission factsheet points out that “passive tags have practical read ranges that vary from about 10 mm up to about 5 metres”. This has caused public concern over their possible use in passports and ID cards. The Commission document does not raise that issue, but it does state that RFIDs “will also influence Government (e.g. eGovernment, national defence and security)”.
March 13th, 2006 at 13:45
RFID chips are tiny computer chips with miniature antennae that can be put into physical objects. When an RFID reader emits a signal, nearby RFID chips transmit their stored data to the reader. ‘Passive’ chips do not contain batteries and can be read from a distance varying from 10 mm to up to 9 metres. But, ‘active’ or self-powered chips can be read
from a much greater distance. These are the type of RFID chips that will eventually replace the (stepping-stone) ID cards that the government is going to try to force on the population. The chips will be implanted under the skin. This is not science fiction – it is happening already. RFID chips have been implanted into employees in some companies in America, who require a high level of security clearance, as a replacement to the security swipe cards a lot of comapanies use at the moment.
March 14th, 2006 at 11:17
My recent letter to Bishop Harries of Oxford, my fears confirmed by the two articles today.
Dear Lord Bishop Harries
I write as a member of your diocese, a “no-label” Christian of 21 years, previously atheist for 33 years. Apart from my adult confirmation, I’ve had no previous contacts with any Bishop or reason to write until now.
I write to urge you and your many colleagues in the House of Lords to re-impose your amendment for making ID cards and entry into the National Identity Register voluntary as per Labour Party election manifesto.
The world becomes more and more authoritarian, and this is especially the tendency of this government. Along with the drive towards an unaccountable European super-state, with little or no sensitivity for our historic tenets of freedom, making this card compulsory gives far too much latitude and power for control of the population to a future government which could be even more authoritarian.
Although I am not a fundamentalist or radical Christian, I have read the book of Revelations and the Christian End-Times fiction series Left Behind, which may be known to you, and whilst I do not take either literally, I think that there is food for thought there. In Revelations 13 v 16 -17 “He (the Beast) also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name (666)” Buying or selling, presumably implies the normal transactions of daily life.
I am concerned that compulsory ID cards will be a step on the way to something akin to the above actually happening. This is how I see the worst-case scenario occurring:
1. This government forces through compulsory ID cards and the establishment of the even more intrusive and draconian National Identity Register. Once established, it would be quite easy to add extra fields to the database for information which is not being openly stated currently.
2. The ID card fails in practice to deliver many of the stated benefits and forgery, loss, along with wear and tear of them becomes an issue. (If I am truly cynical for a moment, one can foresee the very powers and authorities who are pushing this actually instigating problems).
3. The next dictat will be that we all then have to have the equivalent of a card on a microchip under the skin. The technology for this is already here, used on pets, I believe it has been tried on humans in the US by the CIA. Even a casino operator in the North of England has tried it out with clients.
4. Under an even more intrusive and authoritarian government, additional fields are added to the NIR for religious and political views, known associations & memberships, modes of movement etc.
5. At this point those individuals who are viewed as being out of step with government views will find that the system starts to fail for them, preventing access to cash, health services, travel etc. etc.
6. Now the populace are completely controlled, tagged and can be monitored wherever they are. Effective dissent is impossible. The scene is now set for absolute tyranny which will make Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Russia, & Saddam Hussein’s Iraq look quite benevolent. For the first time in human history, technology will have made the scenario written in Revelations possible.
Compulsory cards will establish a Yellow Brick Road to tyranny. It is my view that our Bishops ought not to be helping to lay the pavement. I hope that you will agree and insist on the re-instatement of the clause making it voluntary.
Yours sincerely George Harlock, Milton Keynes
Ps. I was perturbed some years ago to learn that the European Article Number (EAN) barcode, used for many years on practically everything, actually carries “666” in the first, middle and last pair of slightly longer lines.
March 15th, 2006 at 16:22
The 666 in barcodes is an urban myth – see http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/barcode.asp.
Can’t comment on the New Labour ushering in of the end time though…
March 29th, 2006 at 13:08
THERE’S NO WAY OUT !
EVERY ONE WILL BE OBLIGED TO ACCEPT THE MARK OF THE BEAST !
AL YOU CAN DO IS PRAY !!!!
April 8th, 2006 at 16:12
In response to dunx- read this site
http://www.av1611.org/666/barcode.html
666 is not technically in the guard bars of a barcode- but how obvious is satan going to make it?
In response to Jaques – being obliged is one thing- refusing is another- being imprisoned for your faith happens all over the world- I hope to have the strength to refuse.
May 23rd, 2006 at 16:28
Fans of this thread might enjoy this story on the Register about other sinister appearances of the number of the beast.
December 12th, 2006 at 16:22
The hidden 666 in the barcodes, the compulsory ID card mirco chips, the new World Order, freemaisons, scrapping the human rights bill….its all just around the corner. Thses are people agents of the apocalypse who are gradually fullfilling a prophecy. In time it will all unfold. The International space station ISS is almost finished. It will be the main control centre of the beast. Do you know the beast will work via the www worldwide web. why call it a web. and did you know www is hebrew for 666. the smart chip will soon rule human life and boy the only way is to repent…i know it sounds corney but that is what the times has made it sound like. the end is near. human population has trippled and all the humans on the earth are re-incarnates waiting judjment. Who am I to say all this. I might be wrong in some of the things i say but. humans have natural receptors like the feelers on an ant that tells you the times. Just take heed